Hail on Hens

On 2nd November 2015, the 2 Happy Hens experienced a sudden

local hail storm. A large black cloud dumped a lot of rain and

hail stones in a freak storm that lasted approximately 10 minutes.

People who lived only 5 kilometres away did not experience hail.

The backyard got flooded.

The 2 Happy Hens refused to take shelter and got wet.

Soggy Chickadee does not look impressed.

Nestle cautiously strides through the water flooding the backyard.

The 2 Happy Hens preen water off their wet feathers after the storm passed.

The sun shone brightly after the storm.

 Rain, hail or shine, Nestle always loves a cuddle!

She was warm and dry under her wings.

Nestle's not sure of the white hail stones?

The hail almost looks like snow on the grass!

 Chicken on ice!

Chickadee walks over the hail stones that were
expelled from the downpipe during the storm.

It is Chickadee's first hail storm experience.

Nestle stands in the sun.

You can see a line of hail stones at the base of the

air conditioning compressor on the verandah.

 The hail stones were about 5mm diameter

and took over an hour to melt after the storm.
Nestle is not fond of wet weather.

Chickadee pecks the wet ground under a tree.
Chickadee is the same colour as the tree trunk!

Chickadee Turns 1 Year Old

 Happy hatch day!

Chickadee turns one year old mid October 2015.

Chickadee's profile picture.

Chickadee loves eating green clover.

Chickadee has grown into a large Rhode Island Red hen.

We didn't expect her to grow so big!

The 2 Happy Hens. Chickadee is 1 year old and Nestle is 3.

2 Sleeping Beauties

Nestle sleeps with her head under her wing whilst Chickadee watches on. 

2 sleeping beauties.

Chickadee looks sleepy.

Sitting next to the yellow owl metal garden ornament

 is one of Chickadee's favourite resting places.

A close up of Nestle having a lunch time siesta.

The 2 Happy Hens asleep.

Spring Eggs

Spring has sprung in Australia and the

 2 Happy Hens are laying lots of eggs.

Chickadee sits in the nesting box as she

prepares to lay an egg in the coop.

Nestle looks on as Chickadee stands up after laying an egg. 

Nice egg Chickadee!

 Nestle takes a closer look at the egg.

Chickadee stands over the freshly laid egg

 for a while waiting for the egg shell to set.

 Nestle is getting clucky and inspects the nesting box.

Nestle perches ready to jump into the nesting box.

Nestle sits on Chickadee's egg. 

 Nestle has an egg coming.

Nestle relaxes in the nesting box.

Can see her fat breast resting on the wooden box?

 Nestle has a little sleep in the nesting box

whilst waiting to lay an egg. 

 Chickadee is hungry after laying her egg.

Chickadee munches on laying pallets and has plenty of white shell grit available.

Chickadee stands at the custom built feeding station

 "Dine-a-Chook" located in the shade behind the coop.

The 2 Happy Hens can choose from a seed mix,

laying pallets and fresh water 24/7.

 Chickadee sticks her head under the feeding

 station to eat her favourite seed mix.

Chickadee drinks water from "Wet-a-Chook".

Did you know that chicken eggs are composed of over 50% water?

Chickadee's First Egg

The 2 Happy Hens woke Lydia up at 6.15am Saturday morning.

Nestle and Chickadee were hanging around the chicken coop sooking.

Surprise! Chickadee laid her first egg!

Can you see a white egg in the right hand nesting box? 

Chickadee laid her first egg in the nesting box.

A perfect 64 gram egg laid by Chickadee on 8th August 2015.

The 2 Happy Hens are hungry and thirsty

after the early morning egg-laying excitment!

Nestle pecks the ground for food in the coop

and Chickadee drinks water from the blue bowl.

Chickadee inspects her egg. Did I do that?

Chickadee is proud of her first egg.

Now it's Nestle's turn to inspect the egg.

Nestle poses next to the egg.

 10 month old Chickadee is now an egg laying pullet.

 Chickadee is a stunning Rhode Island Red hen.

Birthday Feast

Chickadee and Nestle go their separate ways before being fed.

The 2 Happy Hens peck the ground.

Chickadee is only 9 months old and she has grown bigger than 3 year old Nestle!

Nestle can't wait to be fed live meal worms for her third birthday.

The 2 Happy Hens love eating meal worms.

Chickadee is such a big Rhode Island Red hen!

Her nickname is 'BFC' = Big Fat Chicken!

                                                    = Big Fat Chickadee!

The sun shines during afternoon feeding time.

The girls visit their coop to drink some water and eat some more food.

Chickadee eats some white oyster shell to help digest her food.

Chickadee eats some pallets from the food bowl.
Chickadee is yet to lay her first egg which is due soon.

Nestle Turns 3 Years Old

Happy 3rd birthday Nestle!

Nestle has been our pet for 2.5 years this month.

Nestle's 3rd birthday is a milestone as none of our pet chickens

have ever lived that long before! Nestle is a hybrid hen and not

an Isabrown breed which may explain her longevity?

Nestle's egg laying days are over as she becomes an old chook.

Nestle started moulting on 2nd June 2015 which

 cooincided with the start of winter in Australia.

Nestle rests more as she uses her energy to grow new feathers.

Time to preen the new feathers.